After they buried Clara Rolfe, Anna had started to pack, but Gerde realized she had a fever. Kasper pleaded with Anna to stay. Gerde was afraid to let Hans come near her. In 1858 no one knew that the flu germs were distributed before the start of the fever if someone touched or used the same item. The water bucket in the house was for all with one tin cup hung on a nail beside the bucket. They did not use a glass for each person. Gerde recovered two weeks later, but Hans took ill during the first week of his mother"s illness.
Anna tried everything: steaming under a tent made from a sheet, plasters on the chest, extra bedding and hot coffee to bring the fever out of the body, but nothing broke the phlegm in Hans"s thin chest. Upon her recovery, Gerde began to care for Hans, rocking him whe
